Shillong, Feb 9 (IANS) The Bangladesh women’s football team beat underdogs Maldives 2-0 in the 12th South Asian Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
Bangladeshi midfielder Marzia and captain Sabina Khatun scored in the second half of the match.
Bangladesh are now on six points after winning two of the three matches they have played so far. They went down in their first encounter against Nepal 0-3 before beating Sri Lanka 2-1 last Sunday.
The match between thed Maldives and Bangladesh also witnessed two yellow cards. Bangladesh striker Sirat Johan Shopna was shown the first yellow card followed by Maldives’ defender Sanfra Irabahim Didi.
The Maldives, who gained only one point from the draw with India in their first match, adopted an attacking strategy in the first half, but were unable to score.
However, the confident Bangladeshi side sealed the match.
Teenaged midfielder Marzia, who made her debut in the Bangladesh senior team, scored the first goal in the 48th minute. The 14-year-old could have scored her second goal in the 59th minute but her attempt was blocked by a crowded Maldivian defence.
Two minutes later, she was handed a third opportunity with a long ranger that found Maldives keeper Aishath Razzaq’s fingertips before the ball deflected off the bar.
Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun scored the second goal in the 73rd minute after the referee awarded a free kick that easily found the net.
Bangladesh’s next encounter will be against India on February 13.